nevermind x-country singlespeed rides, how about x-world?

In 2001, Yiming Liu decided to go for a bike ride with a couple of friends.

Around the world.

His companions have since retired, but he soldiers on, currently somewhere between Florida and California (does he know it's hurricane season?). Often finding accomodations by simply pulling into a Chinese restaurant, he seems to be playing it by ear. He recently saw his wife for the first time in 5 years. He's on his 19th bike, all of them single speeds. Interviewed in the St. Petersburg Times, he said "You have to be willing to die for this."

There is a fine line between craziness and greatness. I'm not sure which side this guy is on. Riding around the world: great. I've daydreamed of similar excursions, and it sounds like fun (except for getting hit by a bus, poisoning one's self, and drinking a cow's urine) but he's got a kid that hasn't seen him for over 1/3 of his life. That's crazy.

I tell you one thing, though, I'd sure as hell finish in less than 7 years. His first problem is that he's going East to West, so the rotation of the planet ensures he always has a headwind.